Class 331 ride quality.

[GC class B1]

I travelled on a class 331 from Preston to Blackpool North yesterday and the ride was very poor. The bogies on the vehicle I travelled on appeared to be hunting at all speeds above 60 MPH resulting in almost continuous vibration of the vehicle body. When I got off the train I was felt I was still vibrating. The set I took for the return journey was much better and didn’t noticeably vibrate. I wondered whether this poor ride quality was typical and whether it was related to the problems experienced last year with CAF civity vehicle yaw damper bracket mounting integrity.

 

[Efini92]

When they were new windows were cracking because of the ride quality. I’m sure it’s still one of many issues with them.

 

[td97]

I regularly use them at 100mph and they always smooth from Agecroft all the way to Bolton. Harsh ride over S&C, but not usually plain line.
It seems your first set had a bogie/damper issue.

 

[childwallblues]

I regularly use them at 100mph and they always smooth from Agecroft all the way to Bolton. Harsh ride over S&C, but not usually plain line.
It seems your first set had a bogie/damper issue.

I did not know 331s went on the S & C!
I have used 331s many times on the WCML between Euxton and Wigan were they get up to speeds in excess of 90 mph and in my opinion they are not as smooth as 319s.

 

[hexagon789]

I did not know 331s went on the S & C!

S&C is switches and crossings

 

[jamiearmley]

Sounds like wheel flats. They are particularly noticeable on the 331/195 units compared to the rest of the fleet. Unlike the gentle thud thud one notices with a wheel flat on a 15x unit, the crap - sorry, CAF - units experience an entire body shell vibration and noise. It's disconcerting to put it mildly.

 

[NewClee153]

The last 331 I caught between Leeds and Frizinghall was really poor, it was shaking about all over the place. The 195 between Sheffield and Lincoln I caught yesterday was appalling too

Seems to be a CAF thing. Though the 196s I regularly ride in the midlands are far better in this regard

 

[InkyScrolls]

The 331s have relatively poor dampening and springs, and are very light compared with, say the 333s. So every jolt is felt that much more. They are also more prone to developing flats for the same reason.

 

[D6130]

The 331s have relatively poor dampening and springs, and are very light compared with, say the 333s. So every jolt is felt that much more. They are also more prone to developing flats for the same reason.

Exactly the same with the 195s - which are in effect a diesel version of the 331s. My advice would be to sit in the middle of the carriage if possible....as far away from the bogies as you can!

 

[Geeves]

I was going to post the same as D6130, it shouldn't be the case but where you are sat on the train makes a difference. Front carriage over the first set of bogies is like a rollercoaster. Middle of the train in the middle of the carriage on a 3 car seems about the best!

 

[L401CJF]

I had to log a defect in the repair book on a CAF 197 the other week, I feel sorry for whoever had to try and read it, the ride quality made it impossible to write neatly (or in a straight line for that matter)

 

[GC class B1]

Sounds like wheel flats. They are particularly noticeable on the 331/195 units compared to the rest of the fleet. Unlike the gentle thud thud one notices with a wheel flat on a 15x unit, the crap - sorry, CAF - units experience an entire body shell vibration and noise. It's disconcerting to put it mildly.

It wasn’t wheel flats. It rode ok without any evidence of wheel flats until the speed was above 60 MPH. I am pretty sure it was bogie hunting and the whole coach vibrated.

 

[NewClee153]

I think I owe an apology to the 195/331s, while they do ride horrifically, I’ve found a train that has worse ride quality - the 720*

*this is the first time I’m riding them intensively

 

[RailWonderer]

I think I owe an apology to the 195/331s, while they do ride horrifically, I’ve found a train that has worse ride quality - the 720*

*this is the first time I’m riding them intensively

Depends where you rode one. All rolling stock on the GE rides poorly between Liverpool St and Shenfield but north of there the Stadlers are mostly smooth and so were the Desiros and the Turbostars. The 720s do knock and thump from beneath the carriage though.

I enjoyed the liveliness of the 195 between Preston and Oxenholme when I used one there a year ago. Is there anywhere the 331s reach high enough speeds to see the ride start to fall apart? I've only used one on the Ilkley branch and they were very smooth there.

 

[InkyScrolls]

I eenjoyed the liveliness of the 195 between Preston and Oxenholme when I used one there a year ago. Is there anywhere the 331s reach high enough speeds to see the ride start to fall apart? I've only used one on the Ilkley branch and they were very smooth there.

331s regularly reach 90 mph between Shipley and Leeds, and (briefly, depending on the driver) between Steeton and Cononley. I believe they do between some stations on the Leeds - Doncaster line. The ride quality is noticeably poorer than that of a 333 or 158.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Is there anywhere the 331s reach high enough speeds to see the ride start to fall apart?

based on speed limits on https://www.openrailwaymap.org/
- On multiple parts from Salford Crescent - Preston it goes 95, 100, including the fast lines on the WCML where the limit is 110, higher than the max speed
- Pre-Dec 22 timetable change they ran on the WCML North of Wigan, where they would also hit 100
- Liverpool - Glazebury they can get to 90
- based on https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/class-331-at-stoke-on-trent.246365/ they will probably hit 100 on the 105 and 110 sections going that way.

Not sure about east of the pennines

 

[Tractor37]

I enjoyed the liveliness of the 195 between Preston and Oxenholme when I used one there a year ago. Is there anywhere the 331s reach high enough speeds to see the ride start to fall apart? I've only used one on the Ilkley branch and they were very smooth there.

On the Leeds to Doncaster line between Sandal and Fitzwilliam and between South Elmsall and Adwick they easily get upto 100

 

[LOL The Irony]

Is there anywhere the 331s reach high enough speeds to see the ride start to fall apart? I've only used one on the Ilkley branch and they were very smooth there.

Both WCML Manchester spurs and the aforementioned Bolton route.

 

[childwallblues]

As I have mentioned before before between Euxton Balshaw Lane and Wigan North Western on the WCML speeds in excess of 90mph are the norm.